MEPs discuss the need to enforce the Digital Services Act (DSA) to safeguard democracy from foreign interference and algorithmic manipulation. 
The debate with Council and Commission representatives will focus on the compliance of major social media companies with the DSA, which sets clear obligations for digital service providers to tackle the spread of illegal content, online disinformation, and other societal risks. 
MEPs are expected to express concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability of platforms’ recommender systems and their failure to tackle risks, like disinformation and foreign interference. This follows a plenary debate on 17 December 2024, which addressed the issue of online disinformation in European elections. During that discussion, many MEPs urged the Commission to actively enforce the DSA and impose sanctions on platforms that violate EU rules.  
MEPs are also likely to bring up the future of the transatlantic partnership on technology, particularly in the context of the inauguration of president-elect Donald Trump on 20 January, Elon Musk’s involvement in the US government and Meta’s recent decision to end its fact-checking programme. 
Background 
While the DSA does not regulate personal views or opinions, it introduces measures to tackle illegal content - such as terrorist material and child sexual abuse - in full compliance with the principles of freedom of expression and information. The legislation ensures users have a right to challenge unlawful or arbitrary content moderation decisions by online platforms. At the same time, online platforms are required to be more transparent about their operations, including about their “recommender systems”.

fight against hate speech, populism, and fake news on social media (T)

digital services act (T)

Debate on the need to enforce DSA to protect democracy

Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK) EP Vice-President and Chair of the Working Group on the implementation of the DSA, holds a press conference on enforcing the Digital Services Act. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK), Chair of the Working Group on the implementation of the Digital Services Act (DSA), on enforcing the DSA

EP Plenary session - The need to enforce the Digital Services Act to protect democracy on social media platforms against foreign interference and biased algorithms

MEPs discuss the need to enforce the Digital Services Act (DSA) and tackle the spread of illegal content, online disinformation, and other societal risks to safeguard European democracy from foreign interference and algorithmic manipulation. Closing statement by Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy and by Adam SZŁAPKA, Polish Minister for European Affairs. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Need to enforce the Digital Services Act to protect democracy on social media platforms including against foreign interference and distorted algorithms: Closing statements by Henna VIRKKUNEN and Adam SZLAPKA

EP President, Roberta METSOLA, President-in-Office of the Council, Adam SZLAPKAMEP, and Executive Vice-President of the Commission, Henna VIRKKUNEN open the debate with the MEPs on the Digital Services Act (DSA). They discuss the need to enforce the DSA and tackle the spread of illegal content, online disinformation, and other societal risks to safeguard European democracy from foreign interference and algorithmic manipulation.

The need to enforce the Digital Services Act to protect democracy on social media platforms: extracts from the debate

MEPs discuss the need to enforce the Digital Services Act (DSA) and tackle the spread of illegal content, online disinformation, and other societal risks to safeguard European democracy from foreign interference and algorithmic manipulation.

Need to enforce the Digital Services Act to protect democracy on social media platforms including against foreign interference and distorted algorithms: MEPs debate (part 4)

MEPs discuss the need to enforce the Digital Services Act (DSA) and tackle the spread of illegal content, online disinformation, and other societal risks to safeguard European democracy from foreign interference and algorithmic manipulation. Opening statement by Adam SZLAPKA, Polish Minister for European Affairs and Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

The need to enforce the Digital Services Act to protect democracy on social media platforms: opening statements by Adam SZŁAPKA, Polish Minister for EU Affairs, and Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive VP of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty

Need to enforce the Digital Services Act to protect democracy on social media platforms including against foreign interference and distorted algorithms: MEPs debate (part 2)

Need to enforce the Digital Services Act to protect democracy on social media platforms including against foreign interference and distorted algorithms: MEPs debate (part 1)

Need to enforce the Digital Services Act to protect democracy on social media platforms including against foreign interference and distorted algorithms: MEPs debate (part 3)

Press conference by Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK) EP Vice-President and Chair of the Working Group on the implementation of the DSA on Enforcing the Digital Services Act

Opening of the sitting

Need to enforce the Digital Services Act to protect democracy on social media platforms including against foreign interference and biased algorithms

Resumption of the sitting

Welcome

Voting time

 Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

Geopolitical and economic implications for the transatlantic relations under the new Trump administration

Need to detect and to counter sabotage by the Russian shadow fleet, damaging critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea

Request for consultation of the European Economic and Social Committee (Rule 151) (action taken)

The Hungarian government’s illegal espionage of EU institutions and investigative bodies

Need for actions to address the continued oppression and fake elections in Belarus

Composition of committees and delegations

Situation in Venezuela following the usurpation of the presidency on 10 January 2025